Bletchley Park : Information Safehold

After our class visit to The National Museum of Computing some of us ventured on to Bletchley Park. The location of the codebreakers and all of the vital and top secret work that was done there echoes the value of relocating collections for safekeeping during times of conflict.

Heading towards the Mansion at Bletchley Park

Due to London being such a target, and this new tactic of fighting a war through decoding of messages and information, removing such work to the country was imperative.

The cultural and historical significance of the collections of museums, libraries, and archives that were moved to remote locations elsewhere in the UK mirrors this concept of removing what is deemed high-priority from high risk zones.

Approaching the Mansion across the lawn

The top secret nature of what went on at Bletchley Park during the war echoes how the stores of collections were kept secret so as to increase their safety in case of invasion.

The Library and Archives at Bletchley Park itself has also provided for a very enriching experience for its contemporary visitors. The oral histories, reproduced images, and exhibitions create an atmosphere that allows us to image what the lives were like for those who were either stationed or traveled to this safer location for such high-priority secret work.

Comments

Starting off with Science at The Royal Institution

Interactive musical Periodic Table challenges the participant to find and tap certain chemical elements as they light up and are mentioned Our very first site visit was to The Royal Institution (RI), which website describes it as “an independent charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science”. It was founded in 1799, and was consistently an epicenter for lectures, discoveries, and inventions—propelling both science and simultaneously, the whole of society, forward. A plaque commemorating Her Majesty The Queen's visit in 2008 to the RI Dr. Frank James led us around the historic building while sharing with us th e timeline of the RI. Those of us with less scientific savvy were still able to appreciate the care and attention given to their collection of artifacts, documents and even the restoration work of one particular room. The restored staircase, original to the building In one case, the conservation p...

British Museum Archives

Entrance to the British Museum On a drizzly Tuesday morning we made our way to The British Museum where we were met by Archivist, Francesca Hillier. She gave us a very in-depth tour of a space that has not be open to the public for quite some time. Due to its standing as an historical building, no alterations can be made, therefore Ms. Hillier and her staff are focussed on working with the space in the most efficient and practical way possible. Shelves, desks, lighting, etc. must all remain as they are which may be somewhat frustrating but some aspects that must remain are really special. For example, there are hidden doorways disguised as books shelves as the entrance to stairs to get from the lower to upper level! Inside the British Museum Library and Archives which is closed to the public Fun Fact: The British Museum used to house The British Library before the 1990s. Recently, Ms. Hillier discovered mold in the lower levels of the storerooms of the archives so there...

Rovings and Ramblings of V

Search This Blog